Coaster steering gear



March 9,1926. 1,576,426

s. S. GRIFFIN coAsTEg STEERiNG GEAR Filed Jan. 6. 1925 VT 7 Q Hi 7 y 11 g INVENTOR.

' ej igfiey 5. gray/Z1 MM ATTORNEY- Be'itknown that 1, Similar Patented Mar. 9, 192a UNITED STATES 1,576,42t PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY'S. GRIFFIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN;

ooas'rnn STEERING an es;

Application 'filcd lIanuary 6, 1925; Serial No. 895.

Tea whom it may concern.

S. Gmrrm,

" a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Mich igan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coaster Steering (fears, of which the following is a speci .fication.

This invention relates to combined sled and coaster toys and has for its primary object the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a toy of this type wherein the same may be used as a sled, having runners therefor, or the runners may be quickly and easily removed to lower the device upon wheels permanently carried thereby.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

of a coaster device having an improved type of steering mechanism for controlling the same. 7

Still another ob ect of the invention 1s the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a convertible sled or roller coaster device having an improved steering mechanism for controlling the front wheels or 'runners therefor, and being of strong and durable construction, light in weight, of neat and attractive appearance and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the toy embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse section upon the line 33 of Figure 1, and,

Figure 1 is a transverse section upon the line H of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in taken taken detail wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the body or platform of the coaster is indicated at 1 and as shown, is of substan length and width.

it emu-ed to the under side of the platform upon the longitudinal center thereof, is'a short block or cleat 2, the front end of which isflush with the frontedge of the platform and extends backwardly a short distance therefrom.

Extending transversely of the under side of the body at the front and rear, are traction element carrying frames, each compris ing an outer frame 3. of substantially U- shaped conformation as shown, and airinner frame 4 of less width than the outer frame and also of substantially U-shafxed.

C(HTfOl'll'ltttl'On. These frames are secured in inverted position upon the under side of the platform, the yoke of the smaller frame 1 fitting against the inner face of th-e yoke of the larger frame 3, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4-, and the two are securely bolted to thebody ofthe devicejby means of a central bolt 5 and nut 6.

7 t 1 will be noted that the front traction element carryingframe is secured across the eleat2 and not directly to the under face The bolt 5 which secures the front frame to the under side of the cleat 2 is the only securing means between the front traction element carrying frame and the body of the device, and this bolt acts as a king bolt i or pivot for the front frame, whereas the rear frame has additional bolts 9 which pass through the body of the platform 1 and secure the extremities of the yoke of the member 3 which forms a part of the rear frame.

Carried upon the inner end of each of the bolts 7 is a depending bracket member '10, the lower end of each of which extends a-substantial distance below the wheels or rollers 8 and is outturned beneath the rollers to provide the foot 11. Each of these feet 11 has secured thereto and carries a runner member 12, which fits thedevice for traction upon snowy or icy surfaces. It can'readily be seen that these runners may be easily and quickly removed, whenit is desired to use thedevice as a roller coaster.

At the front endof the coasterthere is positioned a substantially U-shaped yoke member 13 having'the legs thereof extended one across the top of the platform 1 and positioned steering post l5, there being interposed between the abutting faces of the post and-the head of the yoke a plate 16. As

shownin Figure 1, the post is secured to the yoke '13 at a point adjacent its lower end, leaving a small portion thereof eX- tend-ing below. the yoke and the lower end of the post has secured to one side face a plate, 17, the lower endofwhich is turned outwardly as at 18 and fiush with the lower end of the post as shown Connecting this outturned end. 18 with the front traction element carrying frame is a link member 19,

-which is adapted to causethe front traction element bearing" frame to swing upon the central bolt 5 which retains it'in position upon the under side of the sled, when the steering post is swung laterally upon the pivot pin 14 which secures the yoke 13 to the sled. The upper end of the steering post 15is provided with the usual cross arms 20 which serve as hand grips for the occupant of the device.

It will be readily, seen that when an occupant desires to steer the coaster, he exerts pressure upon one or the other of the hand 7 grips 20 carried by the steering post to cause the post and the yoke 13 to swing across the front end of the coaster toward one side or the other and when this move is made the connecting link 19 will swing the front traction element carrying frame upon its pivot and thereby guide the coaster in the desired direction. i

From thefore'going description it will be readily seen that there has been provided -a coaster deviceof unique design and having a steering apparatus of an improved and' sturdy structure. 7

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

In a coaster toy of the character set forth, including a body provided with front and rear supporting traction 7 elements, a substantially U-shaped member having the legs of substantial length and having the ends thereof arranged one upon the upper side and the other beneath the lower side of said body atits forward end, a pivot bolt pass- 'ing through said body and said legs, a steering column secured adjacent its lower end'to the yoke of said member, a right angled bracket having one leg thereof secured to one side of said column and the other leg extending at right angles to and from the lower end of the column, and a steering connecting link attached at one end to said other leg and connected with and controlling said front traction element.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

SIDNEY s. GRIFFIN. 

